On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite

Gashaw Beyene

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11

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On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite

Gashaw Beyene^*

Published in American Journal of Optics and Photonics (Volume 13, Issue 2)

Received: 25 October 2025 Accepted: 6 November 2025 Published: 9 December 2025

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Abstract

The drawback of one type of material can be modified by incorporating it with another suitable material. One of the mechanisms to enhance the properties and overcome the drawbacks of a material is by forming a core-shell nanostructure. Core–shell nanocomposites are one of the most preferable structures used to overcome the drawbacks of one material and enhance the properties of another. Graphene monolayer (GML), zinc oxide (ZnO), and silver (Ag) nanomaterials are highly recommended for optical-based applications and for enhancing the properties of other materials. Using a quasi-static approximation framework, we examine the optical response of a graphene monolayer-based ZnO@Ag spherical core-shell nanocomposite embedded in a highly compatible dielectric host matrix. The numerical study revealed that optical factors such as the dielectric function of the host medium, filling factor, volume fraction, and graphene’s Fermi energy greatly impact the nanocomposite’s local field enhancement factor, optical bistability, and hysteresis response. The graphene monolayer-wrapped ZnO@Ag spherical core-shell nanocomposite exhibits a strong nonlinear optical response in the visible spectral region. A low bistability threshold in the visible range was achieved by adjusting key parameters and utilizing Kerr-nonlinear graphene with silver as the outer shell, which enhances the nonlinear effect. These findings imply that core-shell nanostructures made with two-dimensional materials such as graphene have a unique advantage for plasmonic and optical device optimization, data storage application.

Published in	American Journal of Optics and Photonics (Volume 13, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11
Page(s)	27-34
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Graphene Monolayer, Optical Bistability, Local Field Enhancement Factor, Hysteresis

References

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Beyene, G. (2025). On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite. American Journal of Optics and Photonics, 13(2), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11

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Beyene, G. On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite. Am. J. Opt. Photonics 2025, 13(2), 27-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11

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AMA Style

Beyene G. On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite. Am J Opt Photonics. 2025;13(2):27-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11,
  author = {Gashaw Beyene},
  title = {On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite},
  journal = {American Journal of Optics and Photonics},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {27-34},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajop.20251302.11},
  abstract = {The drawback of one type of material can be modified by incorporating it with another suitable material. One of the mechanisms to enhance the properties and overcome the drawbacks of a material is by forming a core-shell nanostructure. Core–shell nanocomposites are one of the most preferable structures used to overcome the drawbacks of one material and enhance the properties of another. Graphene monolayer (GML), zinc oxide (ZnO), and silver (Ag) nanomaterials are highly recommended for optical-based applications and for enhancing the properties of other materials. Using a quasi-static approximation framework, we examine the optical response of a graphene monolayer-based ZnO@Ag spherical core-shell nanocomposite embedded in a highly compatible dielectric host matrix. The numerical study revealed that optical factors such as the dielectric function of the host medium, filling factor, volume fraction, and graphene’s Fermi energy greatly impact the nanocomposite’s local field enhancement factor, optical bistability, and hysteresis response. The graphene monolayer-wrapped ZnO@Ag spherical core-shell nanocomposite exhibits a strong nonlinear optical response in the visible spectral region. A low bistability threshold in the visible range was achieved by adjusting key parameters and utilizing Kerr-nonlinear graphene with silver as the outer shell, which enhances the nonlinear effect. These findings imply that core-shell nanostructures made with two-dimensional materials such as graphene have a unique advantage for plasmonic and optical device optimization, data storage application.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite
AU  - Gashaw Beyene
Y1  - 2025/12/09
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11
T2  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
JF  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
JO  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
SP  - 27
EP  - 34
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8494
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11
AB  - The drawback of one type of material can be modified by incorporating it with another suitable material. One of the mechanisms to enhance the properties and overcome the drawbacks of a material is by forming a core-shell nanostructure. Core–shell nanocomposites are one of the most preferable structures used to overcome the drawbacks of one material and enhance the properties of another. Graphene monolayer (GML), zinc oxide (ZnO), and silver (Ag) nanomaterials are highly recommended for optical-based applications and for enhancing the properties of other materials. Using a quasi-static approximation framework, we examine the optical response of a graphene monolayer-based ZnO@Ag spherical core-shell nanocomposite embedded in a highly compatible dielectric host matrix. The numerical study revealed that optical factors such as the dielectric function of the host medium, filling factor, volume fraction, and graphene’s Fermi energy greatly impact the nanocomposite’s local field enhancement factor, optical bistability, and hysteresis response. The graphene monolayer-wrapped ZnO@Ag spherical core-shell nanocomposite exhibits a strong nonlinear optical response in the visible spectral region. A low bistability threshold in the visible range was achieved by adjusting key parameters and utilizing Kerr-nonlinear graphene with silver as the outer shell, which enhances the nonlinear effect. These findings imply that core-shell nanostructures made with two-dimensional materials such as graphene have a unique advantage for plasmonic and optical device optimization, data storage application.
VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Gashaw Beyene

Department of Applied Physics, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama, Ethiopia

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http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5065-3494

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Beyene, G. (2025). On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite. American Journal of Optics and Photonics, 13(2), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11

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ACS Style

Beyene, G. On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite. Am. J. Opt. Photonics 2025, 13(2), 27-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11

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AMA Style

Beyene G. On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite. Am J Opt Photonics. 2025;13(2):27-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11,
  author = {Gashaw Beyene},
  title = {On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite},
  journal = {American Journal of Optics and Photonics},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {27-34},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajop.20251302.11},
  abstract = {The drawback of one type of material can be modified by incorporating it with another suitable material. One of the mechanisms to enhance the properties and overcome the drawbacks of a material is by forming a core-shell nanostructure. Core–shell nanocomposites are one of the most preferable structures used to overcome the drawbacks of one material and enhance the properties of another. Graphene monolayer (GML), zinc oxide (ZnO), and silver (Ag) nanomaterials are highly recommended for optical-based applications and for enhancing the properties of other materials. Using a quasi-static approximation framework, we examine the optical response of a graphene monolayer-based ZnO@Ag spherical core-shell nanocomposite embedded in a highly compatible dielectric host matrix. The numerical study revealed that optical factors such as the dielectric function of the host medium, filling factor, volume fraction, and graphene’s Fermi energy greatly impact the nanocomposite’s local field enhancement factor, optical bistability, and hysteresis response. The graphene monolayer-wrapped ZnO@Ag spherical core-shell nanocomposite exhibits a strong nonlinear optical response in the visible spectral region. A low bistability threshold in the visible range was achieved by adjusting key parameters and utilizing Kerr-nonlinear graphene with silver as the outer shell, which enhances the nonlinear effect. These findings imply that core-shell nanostructures made with two-dimensional materials such as graphene have a unique advantage for plasmonic and optical device optimization, data storage application.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - On the Kerr Effect and Optical Bistability of Graphene Based Spherical ZnO@Ag Core-Shell Nanocomposite
AU  - Gashaw Beyene
Y1  - 2025/12/09
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11
T2  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
JF  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
JO  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
SP  - 27
EP  - 34
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8494
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20251302.11
AB  - The drawback of one type of material can be modified by incorporating it with another suitable material. One of the mechanisms to enhance the properties and overcome the drawbacks of a material is by forming a core-shell nanostructure. Core–shell nanocomposites are one of the most preferable structures used to overcome the drawbacks of one material and enhance the properties of another. Graphene monolayer (GML), zinc oxide (ZnO), and silver (Ag) nanomaterials are highly recommended for optical-based applications and for enhancing the properties of other materials. Using a quasi-static approximation framework, we examine the optical response of a graphene monolayer-based ZnO@Ag spherical core-shell nanocomposite embedded in a highly compatible dielectric host matrix. The numerical study revealed that optical factors such as the dielectric function of the host medium, filling factor, volume fraction, and graphene’s Fermi energy greatly impact the nanocomposite’s local field enhancement factor, optical bistability, and hysteresis response. The graphene monolayer-wrapped ZnO@Ag spherical core-shell nanocomposite exhibits a strong nonlinear optical response in the visible spectral region. A low bistability threshold in the visible range was achieved by adjusting key parameters and utilizing Kerr-nonlinear graphene with silver as the outer shell, which enhances the nonlinear effect. These findings imply that core-shell nanostructures made with two-dimensional materials such as graphene have a unique advantage for plasmonic and optical device optimization, data storage application.
VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download